Gary Bedore’s KU basketball notebook

¢ Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers scored 18 points apiece, while Sasha Kaun had 11 points and nine rebounds as KU tripped OU, 67-65, on Feb. 26 in Norman, Okla. KU blew a 17-point second-half advantage, but managed to claim the win. Nate Carter had 20 to lead the Sooners.

KU leads the all-time series, 131-64. The Jayhawks have won three of the last four games. The series is 3-3 in the last six matchups. Since the inception of the Big 12, KU is 10-4 versus OU – 9-2 in the regular season and 1-2 in the Big 12 tourney.

¢ Overall, KU is 6-4 versus OU in league tournament play.

¢ Ten of the last 11 meetings have been decided by 10 points or less, including KU’s 67-65 victory on Feb. 26 in Norman.

¢ OU defeated KU, 64-55, in the 2002 Big 12 finals in Kansas City, Mo. KU downed the Sooners, 72-58, in the 1998 finals in K.C.; 79-78, in the 1984 Big Eight finals in K.C., while OU won, 80-65, in the 1979 Big Eight finals in K.C.

¢ In the Big 12 event since 1997, KU is 10-0 in its first-round games, 9-1 in the quarterfinals, 5-1 in the semifinals and 4-1 in title games.

¢ The Sooners currently are a longshot at best to attain a 10th-straight 20-win season. Another streak is in serious jeopardy – Oklahoma made its 25th consecutive postseason appearance last year (20 NCAA and five NIT), good for the longest current streak among Division I programs. The last time OU did not compete in the postseason was in 1980-81. The Sooners have competed in the NCAA Tournament 11 times in the last 12 seasons.